Month: April 2014

Artists trying to break into the music industry, or at least navigate it if they’re already in it, may want to mark their calendars for June 19-22. That’s when the Springboard South Music Festival and Conference kicks off in Houston. With events and performances taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center and Warehouse Live, 120 artists and attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals, receive mentoring and critiques, plus experience intensive training and development sessions at the Band Mall and Bootcamp.

Springboard is the brainchild of producer, composer, songwriter and publisher Barry Coffing. His music has been placed in TV and film and he’s worked as a musician both in Los Angeles and Houston. I interviewed Coffing on my show, “Is It Art, Yet?,” about this initiative and another organization he’s created to help connect individuals in the music business, WeGetNetworking.

Sidenote: Designer Alfredo Saucedo let me wear some of the items from his collection throughout the show. Below is a pic of the rack he brought for me. He somehow managed to fit everything in his Volkswagen Beetle and hauled it to our studios!

Lions and tigers and giraffes! Oh my! Well, that’s what I said anyway when I saw this cashmere and silk scarf at Elaine Turner in CityCentre next to Town and Country Village in the Memorial area.

Naturally, as a scarf collector, I had to have it! Plus, hashtagging #shopelaineturner when I posted a picture of it to Instagram instantly made me eligible to win an Elaine Turner clutch, so that was an added incentive (though, no word yet that I’ve actually won). Elaine Turner was just one of the participating retailers and restaurants in the CityCentre Night Out event hosted by the online news magazine, CultureMap.

Proceeds from the event benefited the American Cancer Society and shops like Dryden Kreps (featured in the photo gallery below) offered discounts for shopping there such as 20% off a purchase (Elaine Turner) or gift cards for a certain amount spent that could be used toward a future purchase. I ate at Grub Burger Bar where you could have free fries or a shake with any burger order.

CultureMap’s editors also attended CityCentre Night Out and gave fashion tips on how to wear the latest trends. I met Clifford Pugh, editor-in-chief of the site, and Joel Luks, listings editor and producer, at Dryden Kreps, and Heather Staible, fashion contributor, at Elaine Turner.

Coat at Dryden Kreps

Shirt at Dryden Kreps

Bowties at Dryden Kreps

Matching bowties and pocket squares

World Cup Socks!

Love the visual merchandising

Hot pink lining

The socks in the pics are by designer Vivek Nagrani, who has made a name for himself with his colorful sock and underwear collection. Even President George H.W. Bush is a fan. I loved the socks representing different soccer teams so you can showcase your support for your favorite World Cup contenders right down to your feet.

From the classroom to the runway…students in the Houston Community College collections class have been working for two semesters on designs they hope will wow audiences next month at the HCC Annual Fashion show May 2 at the Central Campus. The show is usually sold out, with only standing room left after the event kicks off typically around 7 p.m. This year’s show is called “Masters of Design” and could feature well over 20 different collections.

Not all of the students in the collections class taught by Alex Chapman and Vi Hua, HCC professors and working professionals in the fashion industry, will have their work featured. But if they are one of the chosen ones – they could rake in the rewards. In the past, students have won full scholarships to the Paris American Academy School of Fashion and Interior Desgin in France, magazine spreads, photo shoots and have received, of course, exposure. Attendees have included Project Runway Season 2 Winner Chloe Dao and fashion pioneer Kay King, whose own resume boasts designing the uniforms for the Houston Rockets and Houston Oilers cheerleaders.

Alfredo “Freddy” Saucedo, stopped by to talk with me about the fashion show and his own budding career as a designer – complete with examples of his work. You can see the interview below and check out the dress I have on – Freddy created that, too!

What’s it like behind-the-scenes of a studio or on location? I’ll show you some of the spots I record shows, stand-ups, and interviews. Plus – see one of the finished products below: a promo for the fine-arts/education show I produce and host, “Is It Art, Yet?”

The program airs on HCCTV, Fridays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m./p.m. and Saturdays at 5:30 pm. HCCTV is available on Comcast Ch.19 and AT&T U-Verse Ch. 99.

Here are pictures from the set including in front of the green screen to record my show, The Hype, and the Houston Dynamo Adidas Store at BBVA Compass Stadium.